Tnpsc Current Affairs in English – 19th September 2023

1. Which state/UT recorded deaths due to Nipah virus infection?

[A] Tamil Nadu

[B] Kerala

[C] Andhra Pradesh

[D] Odisha

Answer: [B] Kerala

Two deaths from the viral infection- Nipah virus were reported from Kozhikode district, Kerala. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that the deaths were due to Nipah virus. Four suspected cases are currently under surveillance and their samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune. A Central government team of four experts has also been sent to Kerala to assist the State government in surveillance.

2. What is the name of the festival organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)?

[A] Vindhyas

[B] Ramayan

[C] Vaishali

[D] Himalayan

Answer: [C] Vaishali

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) organised a festival of democracy ‘Vaishali’ in Nalanda University, Bihar. September 15 is celebrated the world over as the International Day of Democracy. Vaishali in Bihar is the place where the roots of democracy are traced. The ICCR is an autonomous body under the administrative control of the ministry of external affairs.

3. What is the name of the campaign launched by Union Health Ministry, to mark Prime Minister’s birthday?

[A] Ayushman Bhav campaign

[B] Bharath Bhav campaign

[C] Atmanirbhae Bharat campaign

[D] Bharat Arogya campaign

Answer: Ayushman Bhav campaign

The Union Health Ministry launched a country- wide health campaign ‘Ayushman Bhav’ on September 17 to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 73rd birthday. The comprehensive health campaign was inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu, marking the beginning of an extensive healthcare drive set to benefit millions.

4. What is the retail inflation recorded in August, in India?

[A] 4.83 %

[B] 5.83 %

[C] 6.83 %

[D] 7.83 %

Answer: [C] 6.83 %

India’s retail inflation eased to 6.83 per cent in August from 7.44 per cent in July as vegetable prices cooled somewhat compared to the previous month, as per the National Statistical Office (NSO) data. At 6.83 per cent, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation print for August is 61 basis points lower than July’s 15- month high of 7.44 per cent. Despite slowing down, it continued to stay outside the tolerance band of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

5. Which Union Ministry launched ‘Skill India Digital’ programme?

[A] Ministry of Education

[B] Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship

[C] Ministry of Women and Child Development

[D] Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer: [B] Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship

The Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship has launched Skill India Digital, a digital public infrastructure (DPI) aimed at consolidating various government initiatives related to skill development, education, employment, and entrepreneurship onto a single platform. Users can generate digital CVs with personalized QR codes for potential employers or partners to access. Secure access to the platform will require Aadhaar-based eKYC.

6. Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of ‘critical care blocks’ in Chhattisgarh under which scheme?

[A] PM-ABHIM

[B] PM- ABHA

[C] PM – Matru Vandana Yojana

[D] PM- Matritva Yojana

Answer: [A] PM-ABHIM

The Prime Minister dedicated important rail sector projects worth around 6,350 crore and laid the foundation stone of 50-bed each ‘critical care blocks’ to be built in nine districts of Chhattisgarh. The nine critical care blocks will be built under the Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM- ABHIM) at a cost of more than 210 crore. Prime Minister also distributed one lakh sickle cell counselling cards to the screened population under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSAEM).

7. India decided to end disputes over the import of poultry products, with which country?

[A] Sri Lanka

[B] USA

[C] Israel

[D] Bangladesh

Answer: [B] USA

India and the United States decided to end disputes over the import of poultry products and to reduce import tariffs on apples, aimonds, chickpeas and lentils. Farmers and traders associations fear that the new agreements signed will harm the interests of farmers and small and medium industries in the poultry sector.

8. India discussed with which country on utilization of new transport corridors like Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC)?

[A] USA

[B] Russia

[C] South Korea

[D] Maldives

Answer: [B] Russia

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, met with the Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic, in Vladivostok, Russia. The leaders discussed various aspects of maritime cooperation between India and Russia, including the utilization of new transport corridors like the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) between Vladivostok and Chennai. They also agreed to train Indian seafarers in Polar and Arctic waters at the Russian Maritime Training Institute in Vladivostok.

9. Which public sector bank launched online allotment of safe deposit locker facility?

[A] Canara Bank

[B] Punjab National Bank

[C] Indian Bank

[D] Indian Overseas Bank

Answer: [D] Indian Overseas Bank

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has announced an online allotment of safe deposit locker facility for its customers and non-customers. The new facility can be accessed online just by logging into the bank’s portal. The bank’s customers and non-customers can avail the locker facility without physically visiting a branch, as per the public sector lender.

10. Libya, which was hit by floods, is in which region?

[A] South-Asia

[B] Africa

[C] South-America

[D] Australia

Answer: [B] Africa

Around 2,300 people dead and several others missing in Libya floods. 10,000 people were missing after the unprecedented flooding. The flash floods killed more than 2,300 people in Derna, the emergency services of the Tripoli-based government. More than 5,000 people were still missing in Derna and about 7,000 others were injured by the force of floodwaters that rushed down a normally dry river valley and hit the city.

11. International Hockey Federation (FIH) withdrew hosting rights of the Olympic qualifiers from which country?

[A] India

[B] Pakistan

[C] Saudi Arabia

[D] Australia

Answer: [B] Pakistan

International Hockey Federation (FIH) has withdrawn hosting rights of the Olympic qualifiers from Pakistan Hockey Federation. Men’s FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier tournament was earlier scheduled in January 2024. This is primarily due to the recent developments in the governance situation of the Federation.

12. In which year, Operation Polo was launched in India?

[A] 1942

[B] 1948

[C] 1962

[D] 1975

Answer: [B] 1948

Operation Polo, launched by the Indian Army on September 13, 1948, marked its 75th anniversary. It aimed to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad, whose Nizam had initially sought to keep the state independent after India’s Independence in 1947. The Indian forces, led by Maj Gen Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri, rapidly overcame the Nizam’s opposition, ultimately leading to a ceasefire on September 17 and the surrender of Maj Gen El Edroos on September.

18. Operation Polo successfully integrated Hyderabad into India, ending the threat of secession.

13. Which country has launched ‘AlHosn app’ to track children’s vaccination?

[A] Israel

[B] South Korea

[C] Bahrain

[D] UAE

Answer: [D] UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will use the upgraded AlHosn app to track children’s vaccinations, and children will not be allowed in schools if their vaccination records are not updated on the app. UAE’s national vaccination schedule includes mandatory vaccines for infants and children. The upgraded AlHosn app provides comprehensive vaccination records for children from birth to 18 years.

14. Which institution has launched ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’ mobile application?

[A] Ministry of Panchayati Raj

[B] Quality Council of India

[C] Supreme Court of India

[D] Ministry of Cooperation

Answer: [B] Quality Council of India

The Governor of Assam, Gulab Chand Kataria, unveiled the ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’ mobile application developed by the Quality Council of India (QCI). This app is part of the Sarpanch Samvaad initiative, which aims to connect approximately 2.5 lakh Sarpanchs (elected village heads) across India. The initiative provides a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration among Sarpanchs.

15. Which institution released ‘Global Debt Database update’?

[A] World Economic Forum

[B] International Monetary Fund

[C] World Bank

[D] NITI Aayog

Answer: [B] International Monetary Fund

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that global debt as a share of economic output decreased for the second consecutive year in 2022, but this trend may be ending as the post- COVID growth surge wanes. According to the IMF’s Global Debt Database update, the world’s total debt-to-GDP ratio fell to 238% in 2022, down from 248% in 2021 and 258% in 2020. However, despite the decline over the past two years, global debt remains well above the 2019 level of 238% of GDP.

16. What is the financial outlay for e-Courts Phase III scheme?

[A] Rs. 7210 crore

[B] Rs. 8200 crore

[C] Rs. 9000 crore

[D] Rs. 10000 crore

Answer: [A] Rs. 7210 crore

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister of India, has accorded approval for the e-Courts Project Phase III. It is a Central Sector Scheme which will be implemented in four years with a financial allocation of Rs.7210 crore, starting from 2023. This mission aims to enhance access to justice through technology. The Phase III will focus on digitizing court records, introducing universal e-filing and e-payment systems, implementing intelligent systems to aid judges and registries in decision-making.

17. Which scheme implemented by the Government of India provides first gas refill and stove free of cost to beneficiaries?

[A] PM Kisan

[B] PM Fasal Bima Yojana

[C] PM Jan Dhan Yojana

[D] PM Ujjwala Yojana

Answer: [D] PM Ujjwala Yojana

The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister of India has accorded approval for extension of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for three years, from Financial Year 2023-24 to 2025-26. The scheme aims to provide the first refill and stove free of cost to beneficiaries. The extension aims to provide an additional 75 lakh LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) connections.

18. India and WOAH collaborated to conduct the Wildlife-Origin Disease Risk Management Workshop, in which place, recently?

[A] Mumbai

[B] New Delhi

[C] Hyderabad

[D] Chennai

Answer: [C] Hyderabad

The Government of India’s Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, in collaboration with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), successfully conducted a two-day workshop in Hyderabad, India, from September 11th to 12th, 2023. The event focused on “Risk- based management of spill over events in wildlife in India. The workshop gathered experts from WOAH and participants from Indian states and organizations like ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology, FAO, WHO, and USAID Rise.

19. Where was the Fourth G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) Meeting held recently?

[A] New Delhi

[B] Lucknow

[C] Mumbai

[D] Chennai

Answer: [C] Mumbai

The Fourth G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) Meeting took place in Mumbai from September 14 to 16, 2023. More than 50 delegates from G20 member countries, special invitee nations, and international organizations convened in the meeting to discuss the ongoing financial inclusion agenda under the G20 India Presidency, with a particular focus on Digital Financial Inclusion and SME Finance.

20. TTPS (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) based framework to Combat Cybercrime Targeting Humans, has been developed by which institution?

[A] IIT Kanpur

[B] Central Bureau of Investigation

[C] Intelligence Bureau

[D] Enforcement Directorate

Answer: [A] IIT Kanpur

Recently, A novel cybercrime investigation tool, the TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures)- based cybercrime investigation framework has been developed by IIT Kanpur’s c3ihub with support from the Department of Science and Technology. This framework offers a comprehensive solution, enabling law enforcement agencies to effectively combat cybercrimes and significantly reduce cybercrime activities in the country.